05-02-2025 14:00
Perspectives on academic freedom in Europe and beyond

Academic freedom is widely accepted as a fundamental value and a condition for democratic societies to function. However, in recent years, we witness a decline of academic freedom in Europe, as well as worldwide. The European Parliament's STOA Forum for Academic Freedom, launched in 2022, fosters an open dialogue across the Union to address the challenges this fundamental value faces.
The Forum's annual high-level conference is the highlight of the year. It brought together politicians, experts and academia to explore how academic freedom can be best supported. The event was informed by the EP Academic Freedom Monitor: its upcoming edition will report on how academic freedom in the EU is protected legally and in practice. You can already read its key findings and policy options online.
Programme
Part I: Library Reading Room SPINELLI 5D
14.00 - 14.30 Opening and keynote speeches
- Opening speech: Christian EHLER, STOA Chair
- Keynote speech: Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament
- Keynote speech: Andrzej SZEPTYCKI, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Poland
- Keynote speech: Ekaterina ZAHARIEVA, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation
14.30 - 15.30 Panel discussion: State of academic freedom in the EU--law and practice
- Discussion with panel members:
- Christian EHLER, STOA Chair
- Marc LEMAÎTRE, European Commission, Director General for Research and Innovation
- Andrzej SZEPTYCKI, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Poland
- Milena ŽIC FUCHS, Member of European Research Council - Scientific Council
Moderator: Robert-Jan SMITS, President of the Executive Board of Eindhoven University of Technology
15.30-15.45 Break
Part II: Parallel sessions in Library Reading Room 5D and SPINELLI 6D128
15.45-16.45 Session I: International perspectives on academic freedom (Library Reading Room)
- Discussion on international and regional perspectives on academic freedom with panel members:
- Christina MEINECKE-CHALEV, Regional representative, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Villano QIRIAZI, Head of Council of Europe Education department
- Robbert DIJKGRAAF, Former Minister of Education, Culture and Science, The Netherlands
- Christian EHLER, STOA Chair
Moderator: Robert-Jan SMITS, Eindhoven University of Technology
15.45-16.45 Session II: Furthering the assessment of academic freedom: concept, methodology and monitoring (SPINELLI 6D128, not webstreamed)
- Discussion with stakeholders on improving the monitoring methodology:
- Professor Peter MAASSEN, University of Oslo, author of Academic Freedom Monitor 2024
- Professor Vasiliki KOSTA and Dr Olga CERAN, University of Leiden, authors of Academic Freedom Monitor 2024
Moderator: Ferenc HAMMER, ELTE University, Budapest
Q&A session
16.45 - 17.00 Closing remarks
- Christian EHLER, STOA Chair
- Victor NEGRESCU, EP Vice-President responsible for STOA
#EP4AcademicFreedom
The event was held in English only, without interpretation.
- EP Academic Freedom Monitor 2024: Key findings and policy options
- Interview Prof. Anne Husebekk (International Science Council): ‘There is increased pressure on academic freedom’
- Interview moderator Ferenc Hammer (ELTE University, Budapest) on academic freedom and supporting silenced scholars
- Recording of the event
- Recording of the session "Furthering the assessment of academic freedom: concept, methodology and monitoring"
- Photos of the event
- Poster (PDF - 1 MB)
- Participants' booklet (PDF - 1 MB)